Grave-guard



L. C. MOB.

GRAVE GUARD.

(No Mode'l.)

No. 588,788. Patented May 7, 1895.

w: Nonms news co, Fumo-Limo., wAsHmaTo.

ilnrrnn Staines PATENT Ottica..

LWIS C. MOE, OF ST. ANSGAR, IOWA.

lG RAVE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,7 88, dated May '7, 1895. Application led December 19, 1894. Serial 'Na-532,347. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS C. MOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Ansgar, in the county of Mitchell and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave-Guards; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and eX- -act description of the invention, such as will Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the rehowever, it is desired that either an orna-` movable ornamental face-strip. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of the removable ornamentaltop or cap strip. Fig. represents a sectional detail view ot the upper portion of the guard.

The design of my invention is to produce a novel frame for guarding the mounds of graves, retaining in position and maintaining the symmetrical appearance of the earth composing the same, and preventing the earth washing or crumbling away, said frame being adapted to 'be 'used either with or without the ornamental cap or top scallop strip or plate or the ornamental face strip, as may be desired.

1 represents the frame proper which may be formed of any suitable'metal or composition and of any desired or sui table shape. The lower edge, 2, of this frame is re-cnrved or coiled as shown at 3, for the purpose of receiving and grippingly holding the lower edge, 5, of an independent ornamental face-plate, 4.

When it is desired to construct the frame to be used without either any ornamental faceplate or ornamental cap strip, such as the scalloped strip shown in the drawings, said frame may be formed with only its bottom edge coiled or curved,as shown at 3. When,

mental face-plate, as 4, or an ornamental top, or cap, strip, as the scalloped strip, 6, for instance, or both of them, shall be employed in connection with the frame, 1, the top edge of said frame, 1, is coiled or curved,as at 7, similarly to the bottom edge thereof for the purpose ot' receiving and grippingly holding the upper edge, 8, of the independent ornamental face-plate, 4, and, when it is used, the lower edge, 9, of the ornamental top, or scalloped strip, 6. It will be observed that the upper and lower portions of the ornamental faceplate or strip, 4, extend angularly inward, and that the edges and 8 thereof are vertical so as to be readily slid between and snugly and. grippingly tit between the rear portion ofthe respective coils at the upper and lower edges of the frame, l, and the adjacent portion of said frame, 1. By this construction, it will be apparent that an independent ornamental face-plate, as 4, can be readily placed in and removed from position at any time. The lower edge, 9, of the ornamental cap strip, 6, is curved or coiled, as shown at 10, and said coiled portion slipped into gripping engagementwith the coiled or curved portion at the upper edge of the frame, 1, whereby said ornamental cap portion, 6, is likewise capable of being readily placed in and removed from position as desired. By my construction, not only is the symmetry of the mound preserved, but any desired ornamental features may, from time to time, be

Vimparted thereto by removing the ornamental plate or plates or strips, or either of them,

heretofore mentioned, and substituting others Y therefor, which can be readily accomplished by simply slipping out those already in position and slipping others in their place without disturbing the frame, 1.

As an anchored, plain, frame, the frame, l, minus the ornamental strip or strips, can be very cheaply constructed and placed in position, while even with such ornamental strips, my improved mound-guard can be cheaply constructed and readily placed in position. The frame and the ornamental strips may be each formed in either a single piece for each side and end, or in section-s as desired. By forming the frame, 1, with coiled or curved upper and lower edges it is rendered reversible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A grave-guard, consisting of a rectangular frame composed of vertical front, rear and end plates, each having coiled upper and lower edges, and an independent ornamental face-plate having rearwardly-extending, an-

IOO

gular, upper and lower portions and vertical upper and lower edges seated between said coiled portions and the vertical portion ot' the frame and frictionally gripped to said frame by said coiled portions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Agrave-guard, consisting of a frame having a coiled or curved top edge, and an inde pendent ornamental cap plate or strip having a lower edge adapted to engage said curved top edge of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A grave-guard, consisting of a frame having coiled or curved upper and lower edges,

an independent ornamental face-plate removabl y engaged at its upper and lower edges with the curved or coiled upper and lower portions of said frame, and an independent ornamental cap-plate removably engaged at its lower portion with the upper curved portion of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I atx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS C. MOE. Witnesses:

MARTIN Mon, C. T. TALLIPsoN. 

